West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-27
A GUILELESS ROGUE.
BY Lucy BLAKR.

BY LUCY BLAKR.
was travelling third class from Rosen-
heim TO Munich; the only one of my
companions in the coupe who in the least
interested me was an old man. wiry and
Nigorous-looking, in spite of the white
hair that lay over the collar Of his coat
and the testimony of seventy wears at
least written on his furrowed forehead.
ltls dress, that of q wcll-to-do Pavarian
peasant, first attracted my attention
kneebreeehes, shiny and smooth from
long wear, and with delicate traccry in
colored silk ncedlework at the seams n
leather-ironted waistcoat; blue coat of
antiquated cut, with scollop shells .rna-
menting il instead OF buttons: aud what
most struck my eye trnincd TO note and
copy such details in my pictures. was
leather belt about six inches wide
covered thickly with the most skinful
embroidery, also in colored silks of mel
low and beautiful tints. The device was
very grotcsque; harpy-hkc creatures
smothered in flowers which could have
grown only in some drcamland garden
The belt shut with au ANTIQUE silver
clasp, serpent catching its own tai i'm
IT'S fangs, and was evidently an heirloom
In the family.
ConyerSationally, found the old man
rather dull, even lacking, it would an
pear, as he ramblcd along dis;oi,red
narrative 10 which the name Erika re
cured at Intervals Fc frequently ca
resscd his belt just below where his din
ner lay, mumbling mf TO himself;
'Erika W Il be nc happier for that-yes.
Tar happier. She little gutsses what is
in il.
was in doubt as to what the old fol.
low alluded to; evidently some mysteri.
Gus booty in his belt, but as he contin
ued: 1T was not wear and tear that
broke the stitches asked Erika TO mend
she had no suspicion OF what she was
sewing up safe inside decided il must
be the belt
Certainly Erika, whoever She was.
made a great mistake in letting this
weak minded old man come alone to-a
busy, crowded city like Munich.
MY reflections were cut short by our
arrival at the huge station, where a chat
terng party Of friends took me into Gus
tCiy at once. | saw the old peasant
w'lk briskly away with the rest Of tho
stream, armed with stout stick, and
s:raightway forgot his existence Tor the
tiiuc being.
When not unattractive and still
your z widow invites man 10 90 to the
cemetery with her contemplate her late
husband grave, he is apt TO be unprc-
pred with a suitable reply. To say
brlsAly he accepts with pleasure, sounds
Ecartless and uniccling, while a dismal
dcpo'tment and ecch bcGtting the oc
casion may be construed into reluc-
tance at going.
Into such embarrassment my landlady,
rou Mollhaupt plunged me soon after
ny installation at the Pension Mai
field"
While assisted her to hang wrcaths
% TN p4nSies, and numerous unknown
hOWcrs done IN back-and white beads.
round he railing which held down the
deiunct Mollhaupt, it struck me that the
'oiFoWlhg F"lct was prepared TO find con
soIallon loI her 10 in unworthy me.
The ariul Continental tenor of her con
Ycrsiilon causing me great uncasincss, /
troposed n diversion for us both. "A
s'roll toward the rows Of tall windows
behind which according 20 Munich law
the dead arc exposed for two days the
coifin-lids lifted so that all the Living
world may see
There lay the silent testimony Of that
dfy'1 sad iIoriality; the rich surrounded
by pOmp Of burning tapcrs yclyrt
irapcry and fragrant baaks OF flowers
Saddcncd by this spectacle. was
drninP away, when / saw lying in the
plain 81 of IAaupcr collins an old man
whose face was very familiar. A mo
ments reflection recalled the peasant i'm
tho hIn4 "a. ttf
ON Roscnhc'm Poor old fellow. that
Journey was but the prol minary &,
very much longer Oac which hc had
scarcely expected 10 take 20 soon. iii,
garmcHs were suspended on books above
his head, conspicuous among them tho
embroidered belt which had noticed so
particularly A printed notice. with tho
words, ''I Rehabilitation De
sired. WIS ota he'd to the clothes
Poor Erika, ! thought, her heart will
carcciy bc made glad as the old man
predict Il! ] wished had listened more
atteniiYely To- thc ramc Of thc village be-
had mentioned o. Dis home. ] would
recognize it II heard it again. but un
tidcd my memory could not recall it
Pcrhap J, in all the city. was the only
ono who knew word of the dead stran
HNtfNA NJ iINN hiIl'H WAS
omcly more than word ~ woman's
name Erika.
] went TO thc Police Bureau. where
they told me thc old man had fallen dead
IN the street from % stroke of apoplexv.
No paper or letter had been found upon
him, and no inquiries hnd been made for
n.f1. ills clothes would b. exposed for
. week after which. ir still unclaimed.
they would be sold.
ih0uld this sale take place. I resolved
TO 5uy tine belt chiefly ON account of its
artistic value, and also because I felt
curious TO know If It's half.imbcciIe
Toarer htd any reason fer his mysterious
illusion TO something stitched within IL
Returning 20 the rather too friendly
'hcltcr Of the Pension Maifcld," DO was
borne in upon me that unless I wished to
bc married OF hand without regard TO
my own inclinations, / had better not
AIRY longer Fate iutcrvcnod tO spare
ms vet q lille while
tNing ON ny table found a TELEGRAM
mmmouing me at Oucc t1 Schloss
orchcnfeId, whore my sister Dorothy.
vas visiting Dorothy was ill and cN.
pressed o desire to see me. Ever since